Category: Attractions, National Game Parks & Reserves, Travel
Location: Mbarara District
Distance from Capital City: 245km
Opening hours: 24hours daily
Telephone: +256 (0) 392 711 346
Website: www.uwec.ug
Email: lmnp@ugandawildlife.org
Entrance: East African Citizens: Ush10,000(Adults), Ush5,000(Children). Foreign Residents in E.Africa US$25(Adults), US$10(children). Foreign non-residents US$35(Adults), US$20(Children). School children in groups Ush2,500(E.Africa Residents) Entrance permit is valid for 24 hours from time of entrance
Lake Mburo National Park is located between Mbarara and Masaka district, 245km from Kampala. Covering an area of 370km2, Lake Mburo is one of Uganda’s smaller parks mainly consisting; wetland habitats, open savanna, acacia woodland and a wealth of wildlife.
Top Attractions of the Lake Mburo National Park are listed below:
There are five lakes, of which Lake Mburo is the largest (covering 370km2). However, it is among the smallest and less known lakes in Africa.
It is the only place in Uganda where you can find Impala and Burchell’s zebras
The park also boasts a wide variety of wild animals like; Leopard, side-striped jackal, elands, topis, roan antelopes and reedbucks. The high vegetation within the park supports a good population hippopotamus, warthog, buffalos and bush pig.
Lake Mburo national park offers the best game viewing in Uganda – crocodiles & hippos in the lake, diversity of antelopes, as well a huge number of water birds.
It is the only park in which visitors can walk (accompanied by a ranger).
A total of 315 bird species have been recorded in Lake Mburo National park. The reserve is the only place in Uganda, where you can see acacia-associated birds. Other bird species to watch include; black-bellied bustard, brown parrot , mosque swallows, emerald-spotted wood dove, Lilac-breasted, bare-faced go-away bird, red necked Spur fowl, common quails, Black-billed barbet, Blue-napped Mousebird,
Enjoy magnificent view of the park from the Rwonyo hilltop
Must Do Activities include;
Wildlife drives (day drives & night drives), horseriding, mountain biking, walking safaris, birdwatching, & boat trips on the lovely Lake Mburo.
Visit the ranches of the Bahima community, who herd the famed long-horned Ankole cattle.
Forest walk – the Rubanga Forest offers the opportunity to watch over 40 bird species.
Fishing – six species of fish are found on Lake Mburo like; Tilapia, lung fish & mud fish.
Accomodation:
There several campsites within the park. Price start from US$6
The Rwonyo Rest Camp is located 4km from the park headquarters and operated by park management. Price start from US$40.
Upmarket Accommodation includes;
Mantana Tented Camp, price start from US$135, Tel: 0414 321552 /0772 525736. Email: mantana@africaonline.co.ug
Mihingo Lodge, price start from US$280. Tel: 0752 410509. Email: reservations@mihingolodge.com
Rwakobo Rock, prices start from US$100. Tel: +256 (0)755 211771. Email: info@rwakoborock.com
Getting There:
The park can be accessed either by drive from Mbarara or from Kampala. By own drive (a 4WD recommended on rainy season), it takes 4.5 hours to get to the park headquarters. Travelling from Kampala, take any bus heading to Mbarara. These operate from both the Baganda bus park and the Nakivubo bus terminal. The Horizon coaches (Namirembe Road) is recommended by many travelers.
Coming from Kampala, turn left at the first park signpost, 13km past Lyantonde trading centre. The second turn-off is at Sanga, 50km before Mbarara, and 24km after Lyantonde.
If you are using public transport, get-off at Sanga (a small trading centre after Lyantonde), here you can charter a special hire or a boda-boda to the park.
Please note; There’s no public transport along both the access roads to the park.